Lake Maggiore boat incident explained
On 28 May 2023, houseboat Gooduria capsized in the Northern Italian Lake Maggiore, killing four people amongst the twenty-three on board.[1] [2] The incident attracted attention when it became clear that almost all of the people on board were associated with the Italian and Israeli national intelligence agencies.[3] [4]
Out of the four people who died, two had been currently working for the Italian Intelligence Service, and one for the Mossad.[5] All people on board, except the captain and his wife, were employees or ex-employees of intelligence or defence services.[6] [7] The ten Israeli survivors were flown back to Israel on a military aircraft before questioning could take place.
The meeting on the boat had initially been described as a birthday party.[8] Later reports connected the meeting to a joint operation relating to "Iranian non-conventional weapons capabilities".[9] The agents had been investigating local industry and Russian residents of the region with ties to the Iranian military.[10] [11]
At the funeral of the Israeli agent, which was held in Ashkelon four days after the incident, Mossad director David Barnea gave a eulogy.[12]
Notes and References
- News: Israeli among four killed in boating accident in Italy . 2 June 2023 . . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602063852/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-744481 . live .
- News: 30 May 2023 . Italy: Agents die when boat capsizes on Lake Maggiore . . live . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602130710/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65750743 . 2 June 2023.
- News: Lake Maggiore tour boat that sank was carrying Israeli and Italian security personnel . 2 June 2023 . . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601051253/https://www.timesofisrael.com/lake-maggiore-tour-boat-that-sank-was-carrying-israeli-and-italian-security-personnel/ . live .
- News: Giuffrida . Angela . Holmes . Oliver . 2 June 2023 . Lake Maggiore deaths: why were Italian and Israeli secret service agents on a boat in northern Italy? . . 2 June 2023 . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602081425/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/02/lake-maggiore-deaths-why-were-italian-and-israeli-secret-service-agents-on-a-boat-in-northern-italy . live .
- News: Balmer . Crispian . Chacar . Henriette . 31 May 2023 . Dead Israeli agent flown home after Italy boat accident . . Williams . Alison . live . registration . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601180712/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dead-israeli-agent-flown-home-after-italy-boat-accident-2023-05-31/ . 1 June 2023.
- News: Israel: Retired Mossad agent, still 'devoted to state security,' died on capsized boat . 2 June 2023 . . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601214133/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-retired-mossad-employee-killed-in-italy-remained-devoted-to-state-security/ . live .
- News: Nadeau . Barbie Latza . 31 May 2023 . All passengers on boat that sank on Italy lake had worked for security or defense services . . live . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601145916/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/31/europe/italy-boat-capsize-lake-maggiore-intl/index.html . 1 June 2023.
- News: Rothwell . James . Squires . Nick . 30 May 2023 . Retired Mossad agent and two spies drown in mysterious incident on Italian lake . . 2 June 2023 . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602153905/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/30/israeli-italian-spies-lake-maggiore-boating-accident/ . live .
- News: Report: Mossad Agent Who Drowned in Northern Italy Was Part of Mission Targeting Iranian Weapons . en . Haaretz . 2023-06-08.
- News: 1 June 2023 . Russian oligarchs and Iranian drones: New spy details about capsized boat in Italy . 2 June 2023 . . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601103039/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/europe/1685611023-russian-oligarchs-and-iranian-drones-007-spy-stories-from-a-capsized-boat-in-italy . live .
- News: Di Feo . Gianluca . 2 June 2023 . Gli 007 naufragati al lago Maggiore e l'azione segreta contro i traffici di armi strategiche . it . 007s shipwrecked at Lake Maggiore and covert action against strategic arms deals . . 2 June 2023 . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602035255/https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2023/06/02/news/lago_maggiore_barca_spie_uccise-402842409/ . live .
- News: Mossad agent who died in Italy boat capsizing laid to rest in Israel . 2 June 2023 . . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602031653/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-744785 . live .